WESTFIELD - The Westfield Athenaeum can thank the city's business community in many ways for ensuring residents had a free lending library.

The Athenaeum can trace its history back to the 1830s when a lawyer, William G. Bates, founded the first library association here; H.B. Smith in 1850 purchases Bates' books and set up a circulating library in his bookstore on Main Street.

It was 150 years ago, as the nation was in the midst of the Civil War, that the state Legislature formally acted on the incorporation of the Westfield Athenaeum in March 1864, and the president of the American Whip Co., Hiram H. Harrison, said he would provide a library and reading room for the citizenry.

The Athenaeum is set to celebrate its 150th birthday with an 1864-vintage harvest fair on Sept. 28. The event will include Civil War-era activities and entertainment.

It will also culminate the career of the current director, Christopher J. Lindquist, who is stepping down after 10 years to accept a position as director of the Wellesley Free Library.

The 1864 Harvest Fair will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Athenaeum grounds across from the Park Square Green. It will include musical performances by Sarah Miche, known as Sarah the Fiddler, a Civil War ballroom dance troupe from Small Planet Dancers and Jim Blanch and the Boot Hills Band. The dancers will be performing a number of dances that were popular in 1864, including the Disputation Quadrille, the Virginia Reel and the Farewell Waltz.

There will also be a Civil War encampment, featuring the 10th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Company C, a family-oriented unit based in Northampton. A full company, Company K, was formed in Westfield during the Civil War, and served in several engagements until it mustered out in July 1864.

“The Infantry will be dressed in their uniforms, and people will be able to get photos taken with them, and try on some of the (Civil War era) clothing,” said Lindquist.

People can have photos taken in the Civil War clothing, and can purchase the sepia-toned or color 5-by-7-inch 7 photos, to take home that day or pick up later at the Athenaeum.

Several food vendors will be selling items, and the Friends of the Athenaeum will be selling old-time soda, such as birch beer and ginger beer, along with penny candy and cotton candy, as a fundraiser.

The Westfield River Brewing Co. will be selling its own beer, including its Black Squirrel Ale, in the “Harvest Beer Garden,” near the performance stage, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Athenaeum will also sell commemorative items with its sesquicentennial logo, such as tote bags, coffee mugs and drawstring backpacks for kids.

Visitors to the Harvest Fair will be able to purchase tickets to two upcoming sesquicentennial events, as part of the Athenaeum’s yearlong celebration.

They include a dramatic reading called, “A Spirited Encounter,” by playwright Kathi Palmer about the founding of the Athenaeum, on Oct, 12, and the “Dan Kane Classic Christmas Spectacular,” featuring the Dan Kane Singers, on Dec. 8.

Lindquist says the Athenaeum is a unique institution.

“We’ve been providing services continuously for 150 years,” he said. “This gives us an opportunity to recognize what that has meant to the community. We hope people come out to enjoy some food, locally crafted beer, some local music, and also celebrate the Athenaeum’s incredible history.”

Lindquist, along with Westfield on Weekends president Robert Plasse, will act as hosts of the Harvest Fair. The fair will serve as Lindquist’s farewell. Athenaeum adult services librarian Sheryl Collins will serve as acting director while a search is conducted for a permanent director.

Lindquist said it’s been a privilege to serve as Athenaeum director during a very challenging time for libraries, as the field has been transformed because of technology over the past 10 years.

He said the Atheneaum is a special place. “What I’ve really enjoyed is the history,” Lindquist said. “We have a historical museum, and we have collections dating back to the 18th century – the archives as well as the museum objects. That’s been a special part of my time here…helping interpret local history and celebrate what Westfield history has been over the past 300 years.”

The Westfield Athenaeum is located at 6 Elm St. For more information on the upcoming events, go online to westath.org, or call (413) 568-7833.